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Below Average

#1804 of 2,268 schools in GA

Columbia Elementary School

Elementary School · Dekalb County · Decatur, GA

A Dekalb County elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.

3230 Columbia Woods Dr, Decatur, GA 30032

  • Math 18% vs GA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 18% vs GA 42% (2024)
  • 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.3Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17.7% (2024 GA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency17.8% (2024 GA)
Math vs. State Avg-24.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-24 pts
Overall Proficiency18% (2024 GA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2024 GA)
vs. Expected-2.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile24th
Resources & Environment4.4Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
District spending per student$15,368
Chronic Absenteeism54.6%

Students at Columbia Elementary School score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 GA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. GA average.

Math Proficiency18%(2024 GA)
School
State
42%(2024 GA)
ELA Proficiency18%(2024 GA)
School
State
42%(2024 GA)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 18% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
63%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
64%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
68%
ELA
81%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
73%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
18%
ELA
17%
2015
Math
14%
ELA
15%
2016
Math
20%
ELA
18%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
17%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
22%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
22%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2022
Math
18%
ELA
20%
2024
Math
18%
ELA
18%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 30 test records from GA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Columbia Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Atlanta map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 36Car-Dependent
  • Transit 37Some Transit
  • Bike 14Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,405/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Decatur), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$61,292

Median home value

$245,000

Median rent

$1,364/mo

College educated

30%

Homeownership

57.8%

Poverty rate

16.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 30032; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Greenforest Mccalep Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.9privatePK–120.4 mi113Compare →
Snapfinger Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.3PK–51.0 mi429Compare →
Toney Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.3PK–51.3 mi226Compare →
Kelley Lake Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.6PK–51.5 mi233Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Dekalb County

Schools in district
131
Rank in district
#79 of 131
District spending per student
$15,368NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Columbia Elementary School is listed in DeKalb County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Columbia Elementary School

Columbia Elementary School is a public elementary school in Decatur, GA, part of Dekalb County, serving approximately 388 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,804 of 2,268 schools in GA. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Columbia Elementary School

What grades does Columbia Elementary School serve?

Columbia Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Columbia Elementary School?

Columbia Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 388 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Columbia Elementary School rank in GA?

Columbia Elementary School ranks #1,804 of 2,268 schools in GA.

What is Columbia Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Columbia Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Columbia Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Elementary School has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Columbia Elementary School a charter school?

No, Columbia Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Columbia Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Columbia Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Elementary School?

100.0% of students at Columbia Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
388
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
DeKalb County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
54.6%
Area population (ZIP 30032)
42,812
Area average commute
32.8 min
Area median age
39.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 GA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 GA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 GA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 GA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 30032; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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